Oregon State to celebrate Martin Luther King Jr. Day with series of events

01/07/2010

CORVALLIS, Ore. – Oregon State University will celebrate the legacy of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. with a celebration now through Jan. 23 at multiple locations throughout Corvallis. The celebration, which is one of the oldest continuous MLK events in the state, includes the popular Peace Breakfast and appearances by Freedom Rider Ruth Koenig and human rights activist and author Richard Lapchick, who has been described as “the racial conscience of sport.”

Activities, based around the theme of “The Door to Equality is Voice Activated,” are open to the public and most are free. OSU will cancel classes on Monday, Jan. 18, to allow students, faculty and staff to observe the celebration and join the annual Peace Breakfast, which starts at 7:30 a.m. in the Memorial Union (MU) Ballroom on the OSU campus.

Featured events at the breakfast include a keynote address by Lapchick, presentation of the Phyllis S. Lee & Frances Dancy Hooks Coalition Builder Awards (among other honors), a video created by Director of Community and Diversity Terryl Ross and a performance by Outspoken, the OSU Men’s a cappella group.

Tickets will be available at the door, but organizers advise patrons to buy tickets in advance from the MU business office, as the event regularly sells out. Tickets, which go on sale starting Wednesday, Jan. 6, are $10 for general admission and $6 for students; children ages 5-and-under will be admitted free. Call 541-737-4381 for more information.

Also on Jan. 18, a “Kids Supporting Social Justice” activity takes place from 7:15 a.m. to 9 a.m. in the Pan African Sankofa Room of the Memorial Union. It will be followed by a “Kids for Equality” event for preschool to middle school children in the Native American Longhouse on campus, just south of the Memorial Union.

A birthday party for King will be held from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m., at the Lonnie B. Harris Black Cultural Center, 2325 N.W. Monroe, followed by a candlelight walk and vigil starting at 6:30 p.m. at the Black Cultural Center, with the procession ending with a program and vigil at the north steps of the MU. Afterward, a roundtable discussion will be held at the MU Lounge.

On Jan. 20, from 5:30 to 7 p.m., Koenig will share her experiences as a Freedom Rider during the cross-country civil rights activism that took place in 1961. She will speak in the Arnold Hall Gold Room. For more information call 541-737-8268.

Other ongoing MLK events include a community art event called The MLK Project, which takes place from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m., Jan. 6 and 1 to 3 p.m., Jan. 9. Participants are asked to pick up a phrase from MLK’s speech “Letter from a Birmingham Jail” on the fifth floor of Snell, and register to create an artistic “response,” that is in either an art medium or verbal response. The results will be displayed by Counseling and Psychological Services starting Jan. 12.

Monday, Jan. 11“The Dhamma Brothers” video, noon–1:30 p.m., MU Journey Room. A story set in a maximum security prison in Alabama. The prisoners are introduced to an ancient meditation technique that internally changes their lives. A brief description of the meditation technique and its utility to all people will be highlighted after the film. Co-sponsor: Counseling and Psychological Services

Tuesday-Thursday, Jan. 12–14 MUvies: “The Long Walk Home,” 2:30, 5:30, & 8:30 p.m., Memorial Union Commons. A perceptive and powerful drama about changing times in 1950s segregated Montgomery, Alabama. When her black maid (Whoopi Goldberg) takes a stand in Martin Luther King Jr.’s bus boycott, an affluent white woman (Sissy Spacek) does what she can to help despite the disapproval of her husband. Co-sponsors: Student Events and Activities, Memorial Union

Moving beyond privilege and guilt: Become an advocate for equality, 5–6:30 p.m., Pride Center. Learn strategies about using your social location and privilege to advocate for oppressed and marginalized groups. Use the power you have to become an ally and change the world. Co-sponsor: Team Liberation

Full voice command – unleashing the power, 6:30–7:30 p.m., MU Journey Room An introduction to the most powerful voices in history, their impact, and the echo of them today. A mix of clips, performances, and tips to showcase the power of words and how to make them your most valuable asset. Co-sponsor: Student Leadership and Involvement

Service to community, 7–9 p.m., Corvallis High School Theatre, “Everybody can be great because everybody can serve.” – MLK, Jr. An evening of celebration. A panel of local dignitaries will speak on service, and discuss the impact on individuals and the community. Entertainment includes the Fiesta Mexicano Dancers. Immediately following there will be a reception. Martin Luther King, Jr. Commission, City of Corvallis.

Scavenger hunt for activism, daily, OSU Campus. There will be stations around campus at the Cultural Centers, Pride Center, Women’s Center, International Student Center, Community Service Center and Multicultural Literacy Center. Participants will answer a question about activism and how they can get involved. They will have a “passport to activism” to get stamped at each station upon answering the question. Those completing their passport with five stamps will be entered in a drawing for a free iPod. Co-sponsors: Education Students for Peace and Justice

“Look Out: Race, Gender, Activism!” daily, The Pride Center. This visual display will highlight current activism projects both on the local and (inter)national stage. Come see what’s going on and learn how to get involved. Co-sponsor: The Pride Center

Thursday, Jan. 14The Red Wagon: Facing Hunger, 6–7:30 p.m., MU 213 Pan African Sankofa. Story of Vermonters struggling every day to feed their families. They rely on the charitable food banks, soup kitchens and food shelves. The film shows how food insecurity ravages one’s sense of dignity and how hunger is more than just not having enough to eat. It will challenge what you thought you knew about hunger and discuss ways to battle hunger in our community. Co-sponsors: Community Service Center, Student Alliance for Environmental Justice, Team Liberation

Kids Supporting Social Justice, 7:15–9 a.m., MU 213, Pan African Sankofa Room Who is Martin Luther King, Jr.? What is social justice? At this event, elementary and middle school youth will explore these questions and many more as we read about important figures in Black History. They will also develop an “action plan” on what they want to happen in the world with regards to social justice. Co-sponsors: Alpha Kappa Alpha, Sigma Delta Chapter

Kids for Equality, 10 a.m.–12:30 p.m., Native American Longhouse. The following activities are for preschool to middle school students to learn about equality. Different stations will be set up for art projects, an exercise on being the outsider, a skit, a tap dance and speech project for kids to perform. A soup lunch will be provided. All children must be accompanied by an adult. Co-sponsors: ASOSU Non-Traditional and Multicultural Affairs, Native American Longhouse, Community Service Center

Jan 18–20 Equality Board, MU Display Wall, Student Lounge. Please write your comments about what equality means to you and join students, faculty, and the campus in this important conversation and educational opportunity on Jan. 20. Co-sponsors: Team Liberation, Intercultural Student Services

Jan. 19–21 MUvies: “Do the Right Thing, 2:30, 5:30, and 8:30 p.m., Memorial Union Commons Spike Lee combines humor, drama and music in a technique used in his previous films to again expose the absurdity of racism. “Do the Right Thing” moves its cast of characters through a minefield of sensations over the course of the hottest day of the year, on one block in the Brooklyn neighborhood of Bedford-Stuyvesant. This blood-boiling, 24-hour period will change the lives of its residents forever. Co-sponsors: Student Events and Activities, Memorial Union

Jan. 19-20 and 21-22 MLK 365, 11 a.m.-2 p.m., 1/19-20 MU Commons; and 1/21-22 MU Student Lounge Students stop by the Community Service Center booth to sign up for volunteer opportunities in the community and learn more about the upcoming annual Volunteer and Non-Profit Expo. Co-sponsors: Community Service Center, University Administration Business Center

Tuesday, Jan. 19 Red Power, Black Power, Brown Power, Yellow Power, Gay Power workshop, 6–7 p.m., MU 206. Come learn about the five power movements in America’s history. There will be an open discussion about similarities that occurred within each power movement and how these movements have affected our lives today. Co-sponsors: SOL, Intercultural Student Services

Tuesday, Jan. 19An Evening of Song and Poetry, 7–9 p.m., MU Journey Room. An evening will be devoted to poetry and song contributed by whomever signs up to do a piece (or two pieces as time permits). Participants are invited to present poetry or songs that follow the Celebration 2010 theme or that pertain to social issues such as injustice, discrimination, racism, peace, freedom, equality, and justice. Contact us now or sign up at the door to do a poem or song (or two?). Come early to sign up if you can. Co-sponsors: College of Science, The Corvallis Forklore Society, The Beaver Poets Society

Wednesday, Jan. 20Equality Is…3:30–5 p.m., MU 208, LaRaza Room What does equality mean to you? How does it affect our campus and what can we do to foster equality? How can we use our voices to bring about equality? Many of the topics that will be discussed will be drawn from the comment board. Please join students, faculty and campus organizations in this conversation and educational opportunity. Co-sponsors: Team Liberation, Intercultural Student Services

The Voice of a Freedom Rider, 5:30–7 p.m., Arnold Gold Room. In 1961, civil rights activists, known as Freedom Riders, from all over the country set out to challenge the status quo by riding public transportation into the South to challenge local segregation laws. Join us in welcoming Ruth Koenig to share her story as a Freedom Rider at this catered event. Ruth will share her experiences in the struggle to get Black citizens to vote and share her artifacts related to her time spent as a Freedom Rider. RSVP to 541.737.8268. Co-sponsors: University Housing & Dining Services, Community Relations Facilitator Program

Legacy of Hope, 7–8 p.m., MU 206. Student and faculty panel presentation and discussion on how Martin Luther King Jr.’s ideas not only affected the African American community but how it relates to the Latino/a, Chicano/a, Hispanic community and how recent hope for change will affect us. Refreshments will be offered. Co-sponsor: Gamma Alpha Omega Sorority, Inc.

Thursday, Jan. 21 Interfaith Prayer Service, 3–4 p.m., MU 212. A time for prayer and reflection from community members from different spiritual, religious and philosophical backgrounds. Join us and be inspired to continue to celebrate the life and work of the Reverend Dr. King. Co-sponsors: OSU Campus Coalition Builders, United Campus Ministry